Filter Strips, Field Borders, May Be Critical If Nesting Or Migratory Birds Use the Riparian Forest Buffers), Wider Buffers with Varied Vegeta Shelterbelt
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Windbreak/Shelterbelt Wildlife Job Sheet Insert 380W Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)—Illinois July 2001 Site Considerations • Landowner objectives (types of wildlife use) • Proximity to available water • Adjacent cropland (irrigated or non-irrigated, type of crops) • Soil qualities (texture, depth, moisture content) • Connection to other wildlife habitats • Plant hardiness zones; snow drift control • Width of area and ability to accommodate desired eak wildlife species • Special wildlife needs (e.g., threatened or endangered tesy of USDA NRCS species) mstead windbr Far Photo cour Part I. Planning and Design Considerations Applicability of Practice Windbreaks/shelterbelts are planted on cropland, pasture, and rangeland; along roads, farmsteads, and feedlots; and even in corners of fields with center-pivot irrigation systems. Wildlife associated with edges in agricultural landscapes in the Midwest may benefit ning dove greatly from properly designed and maintained wind breaks/shelterbelts. Windbreaks potentially provide food Mour and foraging sites, nesting and brood-rearing habitats, loafing sites, protection from wind and adverse weather, Design Considerations and escape or refuge cover for many species of birds Fish and wildlife design considerations in Midwestern and mammals. When windbreaks are part of a habitat agricultural landscapes include (1) buffer width and complex found in the surrounding area, they also may length; (2) food value of plants; (3) plant selection to provide important travel corridors that facilitate move create non-uniform vegetative structure; (4) adjacent ment of animals between habitats. They are important land uses; and (5) opportunities to link other wildlife resting stops for migratory songbirds during spring habitats. In general, the wildlife value of windbreaks/ and fall. Over 100 species of birds are known to shelterbelts increases with width, area, and structural use windbreaks. and zonal diversity of vegetative plantings. Note that introduction of tall, woody cover into open landscapes may adversely affect wildlife such as grassland birds that require open habitat. Therefore, careful consider- ation should be given when planting trees and tall shrubs in historic prairie regions. Refer to the table in Part II to determine plant species suitable to meet the wildlife habitat objectives. In the Midwest, this practice should strive to connect planted windbreaks to other planted or natural forested habitats such as upland forests and riparian areas. If possible, plant legumes and grasses between row plantings to augment food supply. In areas receiving snow, consideration should tesy of USDA NRCS be given to prevailing wind and snow drifting. In such cases, an additional row of shrub plantings may be Black-capped chickadee needed (50' to 100') on the windward side of the buffer. Photo cour Alternatively, a strip of unharvested crop left 50' to 100' Maintenance Considerations upwind of the buffer also would serve to reduce drifting The amount of maintenance required and the method within the windbreak/shelterbelt. As is true for all linear used to maintain shelterbelt vegetation depends on or strip habitats (e.g., fencerows, roadsides, or other the wildlife and habitat goals. Timing of maintenance buffer practices such as filter strips, field borders, may be critical if nesting or migratory birds use the riparian forest buffers), wider buffers with varied vegeta shelterbelt. To minimize disturbance to nesting birds tive plantings will attract more species of wildlife than and avoid tree insect and disease problems, prune or narrow buffers comprised of a single species. For thin from October to April. To encourage use by cavity upland game species, a minimum of three rows of nesters, allow dead and dying trees to remain. If vegetation should be planted: one fruit-bearing shrub, removal is necessary then do so selectively leaving one conifer, and one medium height tree (see vegeta a minimum of one snag/200 ft. Additionally, nest tion matrix for suggested species). For migrating and boxes that are properly sized for desired species nesting songbirds, plantings that provide structural and can be erected. zonal diversity are recommended. It is further recom mended that shelterbelts be greater than 115 ft wide (eight rows) and greater than 1.5 acres in area. 2 Part II. List of Shrubs and Small Trees Beneficial for Wildlife Average Mature Drainage Height Species Adaptation1 (ft.) Comments/Wildlife Uses Alternateleaf dogwood SPD–WD 18 Blue-black fruit with red stems. Fruit eaten by birds. Twigs browsed by deer and rabbits. Leaves not opposite. American plum MWD–ED 30 Reddish edible drupe recommended for quail. 1 Black chokeberry SPD–WD 10 ⁄3" dark-purple edible fruit. 1 Blackhaw MWD–WD 20 ⁄2" long edible drupe, eaten by song birds, quail, and fox. Bladdernut SPD–WD 10 3-lobed balloonlike capsule. 1 Chokecherry SPD–WD 18 Grows in a wide variety of sites. ⁄3" dark-purple edible fruit. Eastern redcedar ED–SPD 80 Bluish-black berrylike fruit eaten by cedar waxwings and other songbirds. Provides important protection and nesting cover. Flowering crabapple PD–WD 30 Yellow-green edible fruit with fragrant flowers. Recommended for quail. Flowering dogwood MWD–WD 30 Showy flowers, glossy red drupe. Recommended for quail. Gray dogwood SPD–WD 8 Red pedicles in winter, white drupe. Hazel alder VPD–WD 18 Prefers wet to moist soils. Long lenticles on the stem. Hazelnut MWD–WD 15 Often forms large colonies. Small edible nut. Squirrels, deer, jays, grouse, quail, and pheasant like. Recommended for quail. Highbush cranberry VPD–WD 9 Tart red edible fruits. Eaten by grouse, pheasant, and songbirds. Showy. Nannyberry SPD–WD 18 Blue-black fruits similar to raisins, eaten by birds. Ninebark VPD–WD 10 Fruit are small dry bladders lasting through winter. White to pinkish flowers. Pawpaw SPD–WD 20 Large leaves, likes deep moist soils. Edible fruit. Eaten by opossum, squirrels, raccoon, and fox. Prairie crab PD–WD 30 Small fruit, showy flowers. Prickly ash SPD–WD 9 A thicket-forming shrub with prickly leafstalks. Fruits are a small reddish-brown pod. Chewing plant parts was once a popular toothache cure. Red-osier dogwood VPD–WD 10 Reddish stem, white drupe, good winter color. Fruit sought by songbirds, grouse, quail. Twigs browsed by deer, rabbits. Redbud MW–WD 30 A legume, pod 2–3" long, reddish-purple flowers, heart-shaped leaves. Seeds eaten by a few songbirds. Roughleaf dogwood PD–WD 18 White drupes. Fruit eaten by several songbirds, grouse, quail, turkey and pheasant. Browsed some by rabbits and deer. —Continued 3 Part II. List of Shrubs and Small Trees Beneficial for Wildlife (continued) Average Mature Drainage Height Species Adaptation1 (ft.) Comments/Wildlife Uses Serviceberry MW–WD 30 Berrylike pome, green turning red to black. Recommended for quail. Shining sumac MW–ED 8 Tolerates dry, infertile soils. Reddish fruit; eaten by some songbirds, quail, dove, pheasant. Twigs some- times browsed. Silky dogwood VPD–WD 10 Bluish fruit, likes moist soils and partial shade. Browsed some by rabbits and deer. Smooth sumac MWD–ED 12 Often forms large colonies. Reddish fruit; eaten by some songbirds, quail, dove, and pheasant. Twigs sometimes browsed. Recommended for quail. Spicebush VPD–WD 9 Small red drupe that is edible. Twigs and fruit eaten by songbirds, deer, rabbit, opossum, quail and grouse. 1 Southern arrowwood MWD–WD 9 ⁄4" bluish-black drupe, eaten by birds. Staghorn sumac MWD–ED 15 Tolerates dry, infertile soils. Reddish fruit; eaten by some songbirds, quail, dove, pheasant. Twigs some- times browsed by rabbits and deer. Washington hawthorn SPD–ED 30 Red fruit that lasts into winter and attracts many birds. Also fed on by deer, fox, rabbit, grouse and pheasant. Excellent nesting habitat for songbirds. Wild sweet crabapple SPD–ED 30 Yellow-green edible fruit with highly fragrant flowers. Recommended for quail. Winterberry VPD–SPD 10 Erect shrub with small greenish white flowers and bright red berries that persist through winter. Must have male and female plants for pollination. American witchhazel SPD–WD 18 Pale yellow flowers that produce pods with seeds. Seeds, buds and twigs eaten by deer, rabbit, quail and pheasant. 1Drainage Adaptation: ED = Excessively Drained; MWD = Moderately Well Drained; PD = Poorly Drained; SPD = Somewhat Poorly Drained; VPD = Very Poorly Drained; WD = Well Drained. Part III. Specifications Sheet Use Specification Sheet provided with general Windbreak/Shelterbelt Job Sheet. Include wildlife species desired and maintenance specifications relevant to this species or assemblage of species. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal employment opportunity provider and employer. 4 .